Friends from Leonard Stanley bid a farewell to their social club after 31 years

AFTER more than 30 years a group of friends in the small village of Leonard Stanley have bid farewell to their weekly social club.

The Leonard Stanley Monday Club was started back in 1983 by now 90-year-old Lorna Niebryzgowski and the late Natalie Savage.

It has run every week on Mondays in the village hall but after 31 years the club has stopped after no-one was found to run it.

To mark the occasion members held a Ritz Tea farewell party.

Monica Cook, 78, who was the secretary, said: “The originally intention of the club was to create a meeting place for anyone in Leonard Stanley. It was for people to have a quick chat and meet other people. Gradually it became obvious that the club was popular with retired people and over the years only retired people used to come on Mondays.”

Members of the group often enjoyed a varied programme of events, day visits and guest speakers. The committee also organised gardens parties in the summer for its members.

Mrs Cook added: “Over the years the club has successfully had a thriving number of members in the group.

“We still had Lorna who was one of the founders of the group still coming to the club every week until we stopped earlier this month.

“She set the club up with my late mother, Natalie. Lorna was actively involved in the kitchen and our activities.

“It was a sad day on April 14 when we decided at the annual general meeting that we would stand down. “There was nobody to take on the organisation. Committee members found it hard to carry on the work.

“It was difficult because of age and other commitments. It is sad to see this club come to an end. The Ritz event was smashing, it was very nice. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.”